• Customizable Nikes
• Retro Air Jordans
• Air Max 90s
• Color-Your-Own Vans
• Color-Your-Own Converse
• Adidas's Adicolors
• Custom Reeboks

Shoe It Yourself

Growing up, Andrew Steinthal, a music publicist, didn't dream of being president or an astronaut or a policeman.

"I always wanted to grow up to be a sneaker designer," says the 25-year-old. "Actually, I still want to grow up to be a sneaker designer. . . ."

In a way, that dream is already something of a realty. Of the thirty (yes, thirty) pairs of sneakers he has in his small New York City apartment, five are pairs he customized himself using online tools at the Nike Web site to choose which colors and patterns he wanted for each part of the shoe.

In the last two decades, sneakers have become a major part of youth culture, and, as generations mature, the obsession is becoming an adult one, too. Those who grew up keeping tabs on the latest sneaker styles are now adding an extra level of sophistication to their longtime love: They're customizing their sneaker colors to their specifications. Why not have your shoe's tongue match your tie and cuff links?

"If you grew up in the '80s or '90s, you were really excited when you got your first pair of Air Jordans or Air Max 90s," says Steinthal. "Now, all those styles are being rereleased with the added option of picking your own colors. It's a way to have a shoe that's really my own - something that no one else can buy in a store," he says.

In an effort to avoid becoming a male Imelda Marcos, however, he's decided to curb his custom-sneaker purchases for the moment.

So what's next?

"I'm going to start making them for my girlfriend," he says.

Here are other sites offering customizable sneakers:

Vans
Choose a pair with or without laces. There are a handful of fabric designs you can pick from as well.

Converse
Here you can create multicolored Converse Ones - you can even customize the color of the laces and have your name emblazoned on the side or back.

Adidas
These recently rereleased "Adicolors" were all the rage in the 1980s. Chose the color of the stripes or experiment with models that come with weatherproof markers or paints.

Reeboks
Pick the color of the stripes, the soles, and the base. You can also choose between suede and leather.

 

Posted on May 08, 2006